Manchester United failed to spot Takumi Minamino’s release clause

Manchester United failed to land the signing of Takumi Minamino because they did not know he had a release clause of just £7.5 million.

A report in Goal breaks down the failings of the club to appreciate the availability of the Japanese international.

After Liverpool’s players urged the club’s boss Jurgen Klopp to sign the player after meeting him in a match against RB Salzburg in the Champions League, Liverpool investigated the cost of the player and then discovered that he was available for the bargain price.

United briefed that they were not interested in the player after there were reports that they were beaten to the player by Liverpool, but the story is more nuanced.

Minamino was on a long list of players that United were considering, but they believed that the player would cost around the same amount as Leicester City’s James Maddison. That meant that they were reluctant to get involved in the case, and as such did not do the due diligence that would have allowed them to work out he was easily obtained.

The report also suggests that United’s squad expect two players to be signed this winter transfer window, with a striker and a midfielder anticipated to be the positions targeted. One target is Erling Haaland, another forward for RB Salzburg, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already met the 19-year-old Norwegian international to discuss a potential move to the Premier League.

In midfield, Maddison has been discussed but he may be unavailable with his club Leicester City challenging for the league title. Christian Eriksen, who Spurs will sell at a reduced fee to avoid losing him for nothing this summer, is another possibility. Jadon Sancho is also wanted from Borussia Dortmund, though Chelsea believe that they are closest to signing the England international from the Bundesliga.